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SMARTer Mobility Program

Project Overview

The Suburban Mobility Authority For Regional Transportation (SMART) has contracted a consulting team to conduct an evaluation of its Fixed Route, Connector general service, and the current micro transit pilot program to aid in the expansion of micro transit in the SMART service area consisting of 3 counties in Michigan, surrounding the City of Detroit. This analysis should lead to recommendations for service design and improvements for overall system efficiency and operational effectiveness.

 

Core Services Performed:

  • Public Engagement
  • Public Input Collection & Management
  • Stakeholder Coordination & Engagement
  • Graphic Design
  • Project Website Design
  • Strategic Communications

Client: The Suburban Mobility Authority For Regional Transportation

Prime:  Michael Baker International

Timeline:  August 2023 – January 2026

Engagement & Support

E. Holdings, Inc. was sub-contracted with Michael Baker Intl. to lead the engagement efforts for the SMARTer Mobility Program. Our team developed an engagement plan that ensured equity throughout the project area, with special emphasis placed on accommodations for participants with limited English proficiency, disabilities, and engaging with youth and the elderly. The plan included in-person input points such as open house style meetings, pop-up input stations, on-board surveys, informational displays, and attendance of existing organization meetings. Our online and virtual efforts included online meetings, a project website and engagement portal, interactive maps, online surveys, informational videos, and a social media campaign. 

Local Stakeholders

A large part of the plan covered engagement with stakeholders, a project steering committee, local legislators, and SMART advisory committee. With a project area this large it was imperative that we include and utilize existing community groups and organizations, local legislators, and relevant stakeholders to reach as many participants as possible. Our team conducted stakeholder interviews to best understand how SMART can serve the area. We also worked with the Citizens advisory Committee to ensure that we cultivate an ongoing dialogue with representatives of key people throughout the lifecycle of the project. 

Equitable Design

Our team developed a robust catalog of materials and designs for use during engagement efforts. This included all meeting materials, collateral, informational videos, online surveys, and the project website. Particular care was taken to ensure all materials were informative, engaging, and inclusionary. Most materials, including print and online surveys, were offered in multiple languages, and the project website featured a translation tool to allow for translation into 8 different languages. We also developed over 40 informational videos to allow for those with low reading comprehension to participate.

Engagement Results

The engagement efforts resulted in the execution of 145 input touchpoints and the collection of 3,750 input data points.

The final recommended plan was released in July 2025.

View the project website: www.smarter-mobility.org

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Dave Broniecki
Data Engineer, Associate Project Manager

Dave is a NASSCO certified Mechanical Engineer. Specializing in retrieving and analyzing data from various sources to support condition assessment and capital improvement planning activities. Utilizing data to coordinate and track progress on key organizational performance indicators, he assists stakeholders in making decisions related to strategic planning. He has been integral in establishing data management programs essential for planning the future repair and management of large-scale sewer networks.  David works with clients to develop training programs and SOPs that address current maintenance needs and future Capital Improvement Planning.

Contact: dave.broniecki@eholdingsinc.com

Christine Barton, PE, PLS
Project Engineer

Christine Barton is a registered civil engineer and land surveyor with expert experience in site design, land development, water resources design for civil/site projects including layouts, utility plans, and permitting, and coordination/management of field survey work.  She has successfully held positions as project manager, project designer, and office manager to serve the needs of the clients within the residential, commercial, military, industrial, and healthcare industries. Core proficiencies include coordination with local land development planning agencies, county conservation districts, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, and the  Pennsylvania Department of Environment.

Contact: christine.barton@eholdingsinc.com

Irvin Williams, President

As the President and founder of E. Holdings, Irvin is currently focused on the company’s succession, strategic growth, and development. He has both a professional and personal interest in Pittsburgh’s success.  A Pittsburgh native and founder of several development companies, he has an extensive understanding of finance and business, which are vital to the success of this company. He has served in numerous management positions including financial advisor, senior vice president, project manager, general contractor, developer, and construction manager. Active in the local community, he made the decision to dedicate his expertise to rebuilding economically sustainable communities with the approval of their existing residents. In 1996, he and his wife became the first African Americans in Western Pennsylvania to develop and own a commercial office building, Williams Square. He graduated from Pennsylvania State University with an AAS in Mathematics.

Contact: irvin.williams@eholdingsinc.com | 412-434-6290

Amy Wiles, AICP
Manager of Planning & Design

Amy’s professional experience crosses a variety of disciplines, ranging from county and multi-municipal comprehensive plans and land use ordinances (zoning and subdivision and land development) to specialized planning studies, such as wayfinding master plans and parks, recreation, trails and greenways plans. She has been employed by E. Holdings for two years and has 20 years of professional experience.

Contact: amy.wiles@eholdingsinc.com | 724-448-0286

Alexis Meier, MPP
Director of Communications

Alexis is the Director of Communications at E. Holdings. There she has worked as the Municipal Coordinator for an in-depth municipal assessment project for the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN). She oversees all of E. Holding’s public relations and public outreach efforts. She also brings experience as a Government Affairs Manager for Duane Morris Government Strategies. She worked on community development projects and developing and executing government relations strategies as well as fundraising efforts. She has also spent time navigating our political system in Washington D.C. as the Legislative Staff Assistant for U.S. Senator Rick Santorum. Her understanding of legislation and politics gives her a unique viewpoint when collaborating on civic projects. 

Contact: alexis.meier@eholdingsinc.com | 412-656-8850

Janai Williams Smith, MCP
Managing Director and EVP

Janai Smith is the Managing Director and Principal of E. Holdings, Inc. Janai is a versatile, goal-oriented Program Manager with 20+ years of experience supporting the strategic direction of large-scale programs, setting budgets and managing risks while achieving overall company goals and exceeding customer expectations. As a planner and economist, Janai has been involved in a diverse array of projects, among them master plans, urban revitalization plan, visioning studies, brownfield and infill redevelopment projects, strategic planning and infrastructure improvement programs.

Janai’s interest in urban planning, design and infrastructure programs is rooted in a passion for the creation of sustainable communities that deliver equity in planning and implementation by making connections with people and their built environment. Her affinity for complex problem-solving can be seen in the diverse array of projects in which she’s been engaged from revitalization plans for depressed urban neighborhoods to brand new communities and programs. Leading a process-oriented, multidisciplinary team, Janai’s dedication to achieving consensus in her client’s goals and stakeholders’ vision has made a significant contribution to the successful development of numerous projects. 

Contact: janai.smith@eholdingsinc.com | 412-728-5726